Course Enquiries - UK
Tel: 0207 815 7500
Mode: Full-time; Part-time
If you are passionate about current and emerging challenges facing our towns, cities and rural areas, want to help shape our future built and natural environments and want to study planning at the heart of one of the world’s most exciting cities then the MA or the PG Diploma Town and Country Planning* provide the answer. The courses focus on interactions between people and place and how to facilitate high quality developments in the right location.
At LSBU, ‘We Educate Britain’s Town Planners’ and focus clearly on the British Town Planning system but the course includes international perspectives to provide useful comparisons.
The MA is fully accredited by the RTPI. The PgDip is fully accredited when taken after completion of the BA UEP. With two years relevant work experience (with at least 1 year of this experience gained whilst registered as a licentiate), you can apply to take the RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence exam and become a chartered member of the RTPI
Our academic staff have expertise in a range of planning related fields and are all research active with a strong track record in national and international research networks, projects and publications.
*On completion of the PG Diploma it is possible to top up to a Masters by taking the dissertation module.
Mode | Duration | Start date | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Mode Full-time MA |
Duration 1 year |
Start Date September |
Location
Southwark Campus
|
Mode Part-time MA |
Duration 2 years |
Start Date September |
Location
Southwark Campus
|
Mode Full-time PgDip |
Duration 1 year |
Start Date September |
Location
Southwark Campus
|
Mode Part-time PgDip |
Duration 2 years |
Start Date September |
Location
Southwark Campus
|
This course is offered in full and part time modes. There are three modules per semester in the full time and two modules (day release mode) in the part time.
There are no examinations in this course. Instead, we have emphasised the skills and knowledge that planners will have to use in their professional lives. We have put an emphasis on research; writing, project development, map and policy analysis, presentations and critical reviews.
Plus one specialist option from:
MA students:
There is currently a national shortage of professional planners and a demand from both the public and private sector after over a decade of public sector austerity. There is also demand for planners on the international scene. As the world struggles with climate change, urbanisation, population growth and changing work and living patterns it will be crucial to our futures to plan for these eventualities if we are to avoid major environment and social disturbances.
Employment prospects are excellent especially in London and the South East of England. Successful planning students may find jobs in central government, local government, non-governmental organisations, housing associations and quangos. Given our extensive links with public, private and voluntary sector employers we often find that employers often approach us first seeking suitably qualified and motivated applicants
A high proportion of our graduates find employment in the field within six months of graduation in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Some students take up jobs towards the end of the course. Local authorities and private consultancies are major employers as are companies and other organisations with large land and property assets and our alumni can be found in senior positions particularly in London and the South East of England. That said a significant proportion of alumni now practice (teach and research) across the UK and overseas.
Our alumni include three past presidents of the RTPI, and many senior planners in local authorities, government agencies and private sector consultancies, developers and housing providers. These regularly return to provide talks to our current students and have donated prizes for students on graduation.
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
We have been running post graduate planning courses for successfully for over 50 years, the second oldest planning school to be doing so in the UK.
The PgDip is fully accredited when taken after completion of the BA UEP. The MA is fully accredited by the RTPI. This means that after graduation you can become licentiate members of the RTPI. With two years relevant work experience (in some cases one year) graduates can apply to take the RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence exam and become full members of the RTPI.
Our planning school works closely with the RTPI Partnership Board, the body that oversees the professional currency and relevance of the teaching and learning programme.
A variety of taught modules include classroom sessions led by expert practitioners, sometimes our alumni. Students are encouraged to engage with real planning issues and organisation for the empirical research for their dissertation. Our one day and week-long residential study visits include presentations with practitioners in London, the UK and beyond. Our planning academics often hold posts within the RTPI and work on various developmental projects. We are often the first port of call when employers are looking to recruit planning post graduate.
The teaching team has a track records of academic research, professional practice and consultancy, and have strong links to public, private and voluntary sector employers. Practitioners as guest speakers provide valuable input through lectures, tutorials and project visits
The course supports the employability agenda by enhancing the focus on an applied education. In addition, it provides an opportunity to develop closer links with employers, building professional credibility and academic reputation.
The course has been designed to:
There are no examinations as they do not reflect the skills needs of the town planner. The assessments are as varied as possible including essays, reports, interpretative exercises, site analysis, development proposals, viability assessments, portfolios, analysis of skills and behaviours, PDP and CPD planning, research reports, presentations, posters, case study analysis, project management, comparative reports and policy analysis.
All students have a named personal tutor who will stay with them for the duration of their degree. The Division also has an employability coordinator.
Applicants should have at least a UK lower-second first degree (2:2) or overseas equivalent, although priority will be given to applicants with an upper-second or first. All disciplines are acceptable in line with RTPI and LSBU objectives of widening participation.
Applicants with a non-cognate degree and several years’ relevant work experience may be offered a place, if they can demonstrate a suitable level of specialist subject knowledge.
International students additionally require an English Language qualification, with an IELTS score of 6.5, or equivalent.
International (non Home/EU) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.
Mode | Duration | Start date | Application code | Application method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mode Full-time MA |
Duration 1 year |
Start date September |
Application code 5560 |
Application method |
Mode Part-time MA |
Duration 2 years |
Start date September |
Application code 5561 |
Application method |
Mode Full-time PgDip |
Duration 1 year |
Start date September |
Application code 5558 |
Application method |
Mode Part-time PgDip |
Duration 2 years |
Start date September |
Application code 5559 |
Application method |
Postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system. Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Students should apply for accommodation at London South Bank University (LSBU) as soon as possible, once we have made an offer of a place on one of our academic courses. Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
It's a good idea to think about how you'll pay university tuition and maintenance costs while you're still applying for a place to study. Remember – you don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as a postgraduate student.
Book a session with one of our specialist Postgraduate Advisors. Over a one on one Advice Session they'll advise you on postgraduate degrees at LSBU that match your interests and experience.
Home/EU postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system.
Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
International applicants should use our international application system. Full details can be found on our How to apply section for international students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Your application will be circulated to a number of potential supervisors who will look at your academic qualifications, experience and the research proposal to decide whether your research interest is something that could be supervised at LSBU.
There will also be an interview either by telephone or at the University. If you are successful you will be offered a place on a course and informed of the next enrolment date. The whole process normally takes between six to eight weeks, from receipt of your application to a decision being made about your application at the School.
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
You should try to:
It is valuable to do some background reading before starting the course, we suggest:
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
Fees are shown for new entrants to courses, for each individual year of a course, together with the total fee for all the years of a course. Continuing LSBU students should refer to the Finance section of our student portal, MyLSBU. Queries regarding fees should be directed to the Fees and Bursaries Team on: +44 (0)20 7815 6181.
UK fee: £8780 | International fee: £15400 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5560 | Session code: 1FS00 |
UK fee: £3902.22 | International fee: £6844.44 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5561 | Session code: 1PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK £8780 |
International £15400 |
UK fee: £5853.33 | International fee: £10266.66 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5558 | Session code: 1FS00 |
UK fee: £3902.22 | International fee: £6844.44 |
AOS/LSBU code: 5559 | Session code: 1PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK £5853.33 |
International £10266.66 |
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 201 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.
The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.
If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Find out more at our postgraduate fees and funding section.
We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.
Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.
The individual fee for this course is shown above. For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 201 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
We have a range of PhD Scholarships available in partnership with businesses and organisations; read notices of PhD studentships.
Course Enquiries - UK
Tel: 0207 815 7500
Order a prospectus